I have come to realize that giving can be therapeutic.
I have heard people say that one of the fastest ways to cure depression is by
helping others.
In 2012, I was a recipient of so
much love and kindness from people that left me reeling in amazement. I became aware that the people who have come
into our lives are more important than the so called material things we
possess, the relationships in our lives are God’s way of reminding us that he
is not far away from us. Indeed he is with us every step of the way no matter
what we go through.
The end of the year is usually a
time to give gifts, cards or just say things to people that express how much
you appreciate them. After being such a recipient of so much love during the year
I decided that I would try my best to be a blessing to as much people as I could
possibly be. I tried to keep to this throughout the year. Every time I did it I
felt so much joy, the fact that I could be responsible for someone’s smile or
cause someone to give thanks to God is so liberating in itself, it takes your
mind off your so called issues and makes you focus on God and all he has done
for you.
I once had a security guard who
had a habit of not saying thank you. He took everything that we (my neighbors
and I) did for him and his family of five children and a wife for granted. He
considered it a right rather than a privilege that we would give him food
stuff, clothes and cash aside from his salary. After some time I realized that the
flow of gifts to him and his family from my end reduced in fact I didn’t feel
like doing anything for him anymore, the only reason I continued was because I
put into consideration his children and the fact that they needed help due to the
obvious poverty they were living in, if I had given thought to his ungrateful
attitude I would not have given them anything anymore, I however had to
disregard the attitude and continue to give whatever I could to him and his
family even though it was not as satisfying.
I must confess here that I didn’t
give them as much as I would have if he did not have that attitude. Please
don’t get me wrong, I was not doing the kind deeds for the thank you or the
praises he would give in return, but my point here is that it is encouraging when
someone you have been nice to expresses pleasure, you will find yourself
unconsciously looking for more ways to show kindness to such a person if it is
within your power and if they still need your help.
I can relate my experience to the
many scriptures in the bible that command us to give thanks to God. I understand
why it is so important to give thanks to God for all he has done. He may be a
loving God who has done everything for us already but we won’t receive much
from Him if we are ungrateful children, taking His grace and mercy for granted
will not get us anywhere. Thanksgiving is such an amazing tool for progress,
giving thanks to Him for what He has done will no doubt open new doors in our
lives that nobody can shut no matter how hard they try.
2012 is almost over, I don’t know
what the year was like for you, but please before it ends find time to think deep
and give God thanks for all He has done in 2012. All is not lost; let us try
our best to enter 2013 with thanksgiving in our mouths and expectancy in our hearts.
It pleases Him when we show gratitude, doubtless He will do much more than He
has done for us in the previous year. 2013 will be for us a year of “before we
call he will answer and while we are still speaking he will hear” (Isaiah
65:24) by virtue of our attitude of gratitude towards Him.
May 2013 be the tipping point into your divine purpose and the rest of God.
Hugs
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